Lara duo arrested in illegal abalone crackdown

[fishingvic]

Media Release
Wednesday 21 December 2016 | Media contact: Nick Foster (03) 8392 6254
www.vic.gov.au/fisheries

Lara duo arrested in illegal abalone crackdown

Fisheries Officers arrested two men near Geelong this morning following the execution of search warrants with Victoria Police as part of a 10-month investigation into the illegal harvest of abalone from coastal waters.
Fisheries Victoria acting Director of Education and Enforcement, Brooke Hall, said the search of a house in Lara found several undersize abalone, in addition to a commercial quantity of 24kg of shucked greenlip abalone seized earlier.
“The men, aged 28 and 47, were taken to the Corio Police station for questioning and charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of abalone, which is a priority species in Victoria,” Mr Hall said.
“The pair were bailed to appear at a later date in the Geelong Magistrates Court and face maximum penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment.
“Fisheries Officers seized the accused Toyota Hilux, 5.5m boat and trailer, scales and other commercial fishing equipment including rock lobster snares and longlines.
“A large amount of dive equipment was also seized from the house including a dozen wetsuits including one dry suit, five scuba tanks, regulators and a hookah compressor with air hose.”
Mr Hall said the pair were a well organised and efficient team with elaborate abalone concealment methods designed to evade apprehension by Fisheries Officers.
“They would regularly dive the Queenscliff area and allegedly harvest abalone illegally.
“Unauthorised harvest of this priority species threatens the sustainability of the fishery and jeopardises legitimate take by recreational and commercial divers.
“Our Statewide Investigation Group, supported by regionally based Fisheries Officers, will continue to detect, disrupt and dismantle organised illegal fishing activity as a priority.
“Investigators and Fisheries Officers are dedicated to exploring all avenues to bring offenders to justice and protect our fisheries resources.”
”We are calling on the community to help us dismantle serious organised fisheries crime. We need their eyes and ears to identify illegal fishing activity so we can do something about it!”
If you see or suspect illegal fishing, including the unauthorised sale of recreationally caught scale-fish, rock lobster or abalone, do your bit and report it by calling 13FISH (133474), anytime.

[davek]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: good work, cheers davo

[Lightningx]

Glad to hear it :thumbsup:

[hornet]

“Fisheries Officers seized the accused Toyota Hilux, 5.5m boat and trailer, scales and other commercial fishing equipment including rock lobster snares and longlines.
“A large amount of dive equipment was also seized from the house including a dozen wetsuits including one dry suit, five scuba tanks, regulators and a hookah compressor with air hose.”

WOW ! They should seize the house as well under the proceeds of crime act ! This was a business.

[denis barden]

Very Expensive abs there
Good on ya Fisheries

[barra mick]

At least thisv rimevthr seized the boat and car

[Nude up]

To much light ice for you mick. Hope they auction the car and boat off to someone who will use it for good not evil.

[barra mick]

To much light ice for you mick. Hope they auction the car and boat off to someone who will use it for good not evil.

think it was a compernation of heat stroke from barra fishing and having 3 light ice to celebrate